Panretinal Photocoagulation (PRP) Laser

About PRP Laser Treatment

At Retina Consultants of Houston, we use panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) laser treatment to treat abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye, helping to reduce the risk of severe vision loss and blindness in patients with conditions like diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion.

PRP laser treatment is performed in our office by our experienced and sub-specialty trained retina physicians. This nonsurgical treatment is customized for each patient and guided by specific diagnostic test results such as ocular coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein angiography (FA). The PRP laser can be used alone or in combination with other medical or surgical treatments, depending upon your specific condition.

Treatment Techniques

Prior to beginning the laser treatment, we will apply drops to numb and dilate your eye. Sometimes additional local anesthesia is injected around the eye. Your Retina Consultants of Houston doctor may also place a special contact lens on the eye to stabilize it during your treatment. Once the eye is prepped, your physician will use the the PRP laser to make hundreds of scattered burns around the periphery of the retina. This takes about 15 minutes and helps to prevent neovascularization which is the development of new blood vessels. Once your treatment is complete, your physician may place a patch over the treated eye.

After Treatment

You will be sent home to recover soon after your treatment. We will give you details on how to best care for your eye after the laser surgery and will also schedule your follow-up appointments before you leave. Your eye may ache for a day or two after PRP laser therapy, and you may also experience blurry vision for a few days.

Multiple laser sessions may be required to achieve the desired results. Medical treatment for your condition may also involve the use of intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF medications such as Lucentis, Avastin or Eylea, or steroids.

Retina Consultants of Houston is the largest retina-only ophthalmology practice in Texas with 2 certified research centers and is one of the most respected in the United States. Our practice is also home to the Greater Houston Retina Research Center, one of the country’s leading sites for retinal research. All Retina Consultants of Houston physicians are board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and specialize exclusively in diseases and surgery of the retina, vitreous, and macula. In addition, we have an ocular oncology division, which focuses on cancer treatments for the eye. Our surgeons have studied at some of the most notorious institutions in the nation and all have graduated at the very top of their classes.